Jewish Students Ignorant About Judaism, Student Institute Told

August 31, 1953

WEST SHOKAN, N, Y (Aug. 30)

Most of the American Jewish students affirm their Jewishness and most of them are pro-Israel, but organized Zionism on the campus has few adherents today, Rabbi Arthur J. Lelyveld, national director of the B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation, declared in his keynote address at the 8th annual national Hillel Summer Institute at Camp High Point. More than 160 student leaders from various universities and colleges are attending the Institute.

Rabbi Lelyveld also reported that “most Jewish students are almost completely ignorant about Judaism and Jewish history.” He declared that “the Jewish student of today has a hunger for spiritual security.”